The Gutenberg Printing Press was one of the mid century new inventions in the 1800s. The 19th century gave way for many new inventions that are still in use today (including the printing press). The telephone, machines, the light bulb, the telephone, the tin can and the stethoscope. machine were all invention ideas from the 1800′s.
How did the Gutenberg Printing Press change society?
Well, of course the Gutenberg Printing Press made printed material such as books and newspapers a lot cheaper! It’s said a poem was the first written material ever printed. Maybe the first poetry broadside? It also helped with education because it gave people more to read.
The Gutenberg Printing Press also printed the first 42 line Bible. Even though this Bible was super expensive, it was still less expensive than the ones previous to the printing press. Those were written by scribes and it typically took a year to do so.
But there’s something else that happened with regards to the Bible. Before the Gutenberg Printing Press, many people were illiterate so a lot of what they learned was based on opinion, gossip, or learning by their own mistakes. When the Bible was printed, more people could afford it and this took some power away from the church. Because instead of getting The Word from area preachers, people could read and interpret the bible themselves.
Accelerated global learning. Because word could now travel at the speed of a turtle (about 200 printed pages per day could be done with the printing press.), people were able to broaden their language and learn other languages as well.
The Gutenberg printing press made knowledge more uniform. For instance, in science, it allowed the information passed on from scientists not to get diluted or exaggerated with each writing.
Other things that eventually evolved from the Gutenberg Printing Press would be wallpaper, silk screen, advertising, maps, and let’s not forget money, which started in 1862 to fund the Civil War.
Here’s some more info on the Gutenberg Bible: Little Bits of History and Gutenberg Bible Completed. — Abby ♥
Help With An Essay On The Gutenberg Printing Press
I’m having problems finding websites regarding the Gutenberg Printing Press. I would think that kind of info would be all over the internet but, nooooo. What was Gutenberg like as he was growing up? What did he do and what gave him the idea to develop the printing press to begin with?
OOPS! Hello Charles, you were having problems finding info because you were misspelling his name (I changed the spelling in your question above). Last name starts with a G not a C and there’s an “en” in the middle of his last name. You should have no problem now. He has a pretty interesting life story. Full name is Johannes Gutenberg. — Abby ♥
Why is the printing press a significant invention?
Why is the Gutenberg printing press a significant invention?
Just imagine the time it would take to reproduce (by hand if it was before the computer), documents, books, and advertising. That’s why, before the Gutenberg printing press, very few people could read or even own books and specifically bibles.
The printing press allowed people to be more independent in their thinking as well. Before, they’d have to rely on other people’s interpretation of the Bible. Once the printing press made it easier for people to purchase it themselves, they could interpret the words themselves.
The printing press also made learning and education easier as textbooks could be reproduced much quicker. This meant people could learn to read much quicker and on a larger scale. Newspapers were able to be distributed to keep towns people informed on current and local events.
Books on medicine began to circulate along with learned knowledge from medical inventors and scholars and people were able to be treated by Doctors and caregivers who had more knowledge than before the printing press.
Controversial matters were confined and word traveled by word-of-mouth. Imagine how much the message changed if it traveled from Kansas to California! — Abby ♥
Why do so many people think the Gutenberg Printing Press was such a great invention?
Seriously! Think of all the trees that had to be cut down for paper over the years. Why is such a wasteful invention so impressive?
Sigh… yes it was much better when people were dumb, sick, overworked, underpaid, and dependent on local governing bodies and ministers to interpret what was right and what was wrong. Save a tree indeed.
More Gutenberg Printing Press and Printing Press Info
The worldwide economic impact of the printing press and how cities who welcomed the new technology benefited.
Article on the first Bible printed because of the Gutenberg Printing Press invention.
How quickly the Gutenberg press spread across the world and the impact it has/had/will have on the digital revolution?
Classic! A Flatbed Printing Press. This press won the Liverpool exhibition in 1886 and was purchased in 1920 by Axon and Harrison. Ok, no big deal right? But get this, the printing press is still being used today.
The Gutenberg Bible from Past to Present (see website) features Paul Needham who will speak about the making, distribution, and impact of the Gutenberg Bible
